“So you’re not worried about what people will think aboutus?“ she asked.
“No, why should I be?” Shane stopped abruptly and turned to look at her. “Would our so-called hooking up make problems for you with your manager?”
“There aren’t any rules about dating co-workers or clients if that’s what you mean. As long as everyone acts appropriately, does their job, and doesn’t bring the center into disrepute.”
Shane nodded. “So, we’re all good on our bet?”
“You’re still serious about that?” Krista rolled her eyes. “Okay, so let’s make it five hundred bucks, then. “
“Five hundred bucks is big talk.”
“Because I know Ryan.” At Shane’s pointed look, Krista shook her head. “All right, maybe I don’t know him as well as I thought I did, but I do knowme.” And her light didn’t shine as bright as Zoey’s. Ryan had made his choice. Krista couldn’t compete.
And to her great surprise, neither did she want to.
***
“They’ve been servingtea here since 1905,” Krista said as she read from the teahouse menu. It was a cute log cabin perched right on the shore of Lake Agnes. She’d insisted on buying Shane a midafternoon supper of soup and crusty bread. It was the least she could do after he’d done so much for her. They ate in comfortable silence then ordered two Golden Monkey teas, just because the name sounded fun.
As the waitress busied herself with cups and saucers, Krista eyed the cakes on the counter. They looked so gooey and decadent, particularly the double chocolate velvet layered one with cream on top. She licked her lips.
“And a piece of that cake please,” Shane said next to her.
Krista looked up. “Man, I was looking at that, too.”
“I know. It’s for you.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but Shane held up his hand. “Just eat the cake and enjoy it. You’re on holiday, remember?”
The waitress placed their coffees and a huge slab of cake on the table.
Krista’s mouth watered. “Okay,” she said. “This’ll be my vacation treat.” She asked the waitress for another fork. “But you’ll have to help me eat it. It won’t be as much fun on my own.”
Shane sighed heavily as he shook his head. “The things I have to do to cheer you up.”
“Hey,” Krista choked on a laugh. “I’m cheered up already.”
Which was true. Her mini vacation may have started out crappy, but she was determined for it not to end crappy.
Funwould be the theme for the next few days. She’d take time out. Treat herself. Eat cake and enjoy the views—and not think about anything or anyone who had the power to drag her spirits down.
Krista forked up her first bite, popped it into her mouth, and practically melted into its heavenly taste. It was divine. She took another bite, and then another, and as she worshipped andhmmm-hmmm’devery mouthful, Shane ran through his suggested schedule for the next six days.
“So, tonight, we camp at Lake Louise, and then tomorrow, after we hike the Iceline Trail at Yoho Valley, we’ll move out to the backcountry.”
Another forkful of cake melted on Krista’s tongue, and she closed her eyes to savor it.
“Then after Yoho, we do Emerald Lake, the Cory Pass, and Mount Edith Circuit. Thursday, we could either do Cascade Amphitheatre or the Bourgeau Lake and Harvey Pass.”
With every bite, stress oozed from Krista’s shoulders, like the chocolaty cream in her cake oozed every time she pressed her fork into the sponge.
“Then we could tackle the Grand Sentinel or the Paradise Valley and Giant Steps.” Shane looked up from his trail maps. “Are you listening to me?”
“No. You’ve lost out to a slice of cake. Sorry.”
Shane huffed, but his lips were twitching. He helped himself to a forkful then picked up his tea. “Wearing chocolate suits you.”
“Eh?”
